Why Is My Peace Lily Drooping?

Okay, confession time. I’ve numerous expertise with wilting peace lilies (Spathiphyllum spp.).

It’s not as a result of mine are sick or pest-ridden, it’s as a result of I take advantage of my ‘Domino’ peace lily as an alarm to warn me it’s time to water my different houseplants.

As soon as these attractive wrinkled, variegated leaves begin drooping, I do know it’s time to interrupt out my watering can.

I don’t essentially advocate this methodology of houseplant care, but it surely has labored for me for years as a result of a scarcity of water is a typical reason behind wilting peace lilies.

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They persistently begin drooping when the soil is dry. After watering, the crops bounce proper again, and I do know I’m not overwatering, which is a foul behavior of mine.

Underwatering isn’t the one motive a peace lily might begin to droop. There are a number of widespread causes that may flip your perky little plant into a tragic, droopy mess.

Listed here are the seven prime causes we’re going to cowl:

All the causes on this record can often be prevented by giving the plant the suitable care.

Go to our information to rising Spathiphyllum to evaluate the main points on watering, mild publicity, temperature desire, and different care necessities.

1. Chilly Temperatures

Until you retain your peace lily exterior a part of the yr, you in all probability received’t run into this trigger too usually.

The exception is you probably have single-pane home windows and you reside in a area with frigid winters. It may grow to be chilly sufficient to emphasize or stun your peace lily for those who maintain it subsequent to the window.

Temperatures under 50°F must be prevented, however that doesn’t imply if your own home is a toasty 70°F that your plant is protected.

If it’s 20°F exterior, and you’ve got a single-pane window, the leaves closest to the glass might be uncovered to temperatures properly under 50°F.

Simply be aware of crops located close to home windows or exterior doorways. They might be a lot colder than you understand.

2. Illness

There are only some illnesses that you must look ahead to on peace lilies, and of those, root rot is the illness that causes wilting leaves.

There are two sorts of root rot: Cylindrocladium (brought on by Cylindrocladium spathiphylli) and Pythium (brought on by Pythium spp.) root rot.

Each trigger wilting and yellowing foliage, and for those who have been to unpot the plant, you’d see black, mushy, dying roots.

Root rot is mostly brought on by overwatering or poorly draining soil, and each will be rectified by repotting in recent soil and treating with a fungicide.

To study extra, go to our information to peace lily illnesses.

3. Not Sufficient Water

As we talked about earlier than, a scarcity of water is a typical reason behind wilting. In actual fact, I’d enterprise a guess that it’s one of the vital widespread causes.

Fortunately, for those who add water your plant will perk again up and can recuperate with no injury.

Mine doesn’t even have brown leaf ideas from repeatedly being allowed to dry out. However you must catch it simply because it’s drying out.

If you happen to wait too lengthy, because the roots actually dehydrate, you’ll begin to see brown leaf ideas.

Spathiphyllum species just like the soil to be moist however by no means moist. Subsequent time you wring out a sponge very well, contact it and grow to be aware of the feel.

That’s the moisture stage that you just’re aiming for within the soil.

Go to our information to watering peace lilies for extra data.

4. Overwatering

We’ve mentioned that not sufficient water causes wilting, and now we’re telling you that an excessive amount of could cause the identical subject? It’s true, although.

I’ve identified a number of individuals who seen their plant was drooping, so that they added increasingly water. Earlier than they knew it, root rot had set in.

In case your plant is wilting, don’t assume it wants extra water. Go and stick your finger within the soil as deep as you’ll be able to. The soil will be moist, but it surely shouldn’t be moist or soggy.

It helps to really feel as deep as you’ll be able to as a result of typically the soil will grow to be waterlogged deeper down within the pot however will really feel appropriately moist close to the highest.

If you happen to really feel wetness on the backside, take a look at the drainage holes. Are they clogged? If you happen to can, stick a chopstick or one thing in there an inch or so and wiggle it round to loosen up the soil.

Do you might have a layer of rocks within the backside of your pot? Get it out of there. It is a gardening fantasy that received’t die.

A layer of rocks or damaged crockery received’t enhance drainage. It really raises the extent at which water swimming pools, which implies that the moisture is sitting nearer to the roots than it could in any other case.

Lastly, be aware to not water till the highest inch of the soil has dried out. The remainder of the soil ought to really feel moist however not moist.

If you happen to can ball up just a little little bit of soil in your hand, and it stays collectively somewhat than crumbling aside, it’s too moist.

5. Pests

A part of what makes them really easy to lift is that Spathiphyllum species aren’t notably bothered by pests. However simply because one thing is unusual doesn’t imply that it’s not possible.

A peace lily that’s infested by mealybugs, scale, or spider mites may wilt. These pests all suck the sap of the stems and leaves, inflicting yellow stippling and leaf wilting.

If you happen to study your plant carefully, you’ll see the bugs themselves. Aphids are tiny oval pests in inexperienced, yellow, or brown.

Scale appear to be flat bumps beneath the leaves or alongside the stems close to leaf nodes. Mealybugs is likely to be mistaken for a illness. They’re grey or white and fuzzy, sort of like fungus.

When you handle the infestation, the leaves ought to perk again up. But when they’re discolored, they received’t return to their authentic hue, so it is best to snip them off.

6. Rootbound Plant

This goes hand in hand with underwatering. In case your peace lily has outgrown its present container and the roots are all certain up, the plant will quickly dry out.

Sometimes, you’ll know when your houseplant turns into rootbound as a result of you will notice roots rising out of the drainage holes or up out of the floor of the soil.

However even for those who don’t see this occurring, dig down just a little and verify the roots if the foliage is drooping and also you’ve decided it isn’t a watering subject. The roots will really feel tight and packed somewhat than unfastened, with soil in between.

If the plant is rootbound, you’ll both must divide it or transfer it into a bigger container.

Both method, take away the plant from the container, brush away the soil, and loosen up the roots. Minimize away any roots which can be black, damaged, or mushy.

If you wish to divide it, lower by means of the roots and embody at the very least a couple of stems. Pot up divisions in new containers and change the unique part within the first container.

To improve to a bigger container, after loosening the roots, place the plant within the new pot and fill in across the roots with recent potting soil.

7. Too A lot Mild

Peace lilies don’t like a variety of direct daylight. Perhaps just a little bit within the early morning, however for those who provide them direct mild within the afternoon, you may discover your plant drooping.

Generally, you’ll be able to treatment this by including water to the soil, however a greater concept is to maneuver the houseplant to a darker location.

When that is the reason for wilting, you’ll in all probability additionally see some browning or yellowing of the leaves. 

Keep in mind that these crops do greatest with shiny, oblique mild. The one direct mild they’ll tolerate is early morning mild, which is much less harsh than afternoon mild.

Perk Up!

Peace lilies are what I take into account expressive crops. They make it completely clear when one thing is fallacious.

I feel that’s a very good factor, as a result of you’ll be able to work on fixing it earlier than the issue turns into deadly. Repair the trigger, and also you’ll discover your peace lilies perking proper again up.

What’s happening together with your plant? Hopefully, this information helped you remedy the issue, however for those who’re nonetheless having bother, tell us within the feedback and we’ll do our greatest to assist!

Now that your plant is feeling good once more (we hope!), we now have numerous different data that can assist you get to know Spathiphyllum higher. Try these guides subsequent: